It was 7am, the rain was trickling on the roof of our treehouse, the birds were chirping as they ate the fresh banana that was placed on our porch and we were just waking up to our last morning in Costa Rica – where we would have gladly stayed forever:

After eating the cutest fruit ever (see below), we were accompanied by a family of hummingbirds as we went for a hike in the surrounding rain forest and decided that we would spend our last afternoon in CR resting and enjoying every last drop.

With no lack of resorts to choose from, we decided to go with a local recommendation: Paradise Hot Springs. Located just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown La Fortuna, this beautiful little oasis is much less touristy than the rest and way more affordable.

When we arrived in the late afternoon there were just a few other people there so we were able to relax in whatever pool or jacuzzi our hearts desired:

The Paradise pools and jacuzzis here are all filled with steamingly refreshing thermal water that comes from deep with in the layers of the earth. This water is naturally heated when it comes in contact with molten rock or magma and is very rich in minerals that are known to help cleanse the skin, eliminate stress and induce muscle relaxation… we can truthfully say that we definitely experienced all of the above.

There are also a number of waterfalls which provide incredibly relaxing hydro-massages, as well as an undeniable hint of romance:

Many people don’t realize that going to the hot springs on a rainy day is actually the perfect activity – as the cold rain drops landed on our hot, 100 degree skin, we were able to withstand the heat of the hot springs much longer than we would have been able to otherwise.

Paradise also serves a simple dinner menu; we requested our meals to be served at the swim up bar in one of the hot springs so we could stay warm and enjoy the water as long as possible. The staff was more than happy to do this for us, and while the food was pretty basic, the experience made it one of our most enjoyable meals of the trip:

With happy bellies, full hearts and relaxed everything, we couldn’t have chosen a better place to end our trip other than total Paradise.